Rogers Cup: Roger Federer crawls into quarters

Nadal, who will depose the absent Andy Murray as world number one if he reaches the semi-finals in Montreal this week, routed Croatian youngster Borna Coric 6-1, 6-2.

Federer opened the second set with a break and cruised through the rest of the match, which lasted just over an hour. In the victory, Federer won 81 percent of his first serve points and 72 percent of his second serve points.

On Friday he beat France's Adrian Mannarino 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to secure his semi final spot against Zverev. "We will play a lot more time and probably some really great matches". Just as Nadal's grinding performances fit seamlessly with the name, "King of Clay", it is hard to imagine a player more synonymous with the grandeur and history of Wimbledon than Federer.

Roger Federer maintained his career-long winning streak over David Ferrer to advance to the quarter-finals of the ATP Montreal Masters on Thursday after a three-set battle with the veteran Spaniard.

Dimitrov had won both of their previous meetings in straight sets, although this was their first encounter since 2014.

"He played well", Nadal said.

Monfils, who saved four match points while beating Kei Nishikori on Wednesday, seemed to be in control of the match when he led 3-1 in the second set after winning the first.

Can't remember the last time a Federer semi got short-shrifted on the live-broadcast. "It's tough to come back and play that same level. I knew that was a very big turning point", Shapovalov said.

Polansky earned a stay of execution after holding serve in the sixth game to make it 5-1, but Federer raced into the next round with a comfortable hold, finishing with an emphatic overhead smash. "I just hope to take this confidence and keep going forward". I started to believe more and more again. I came back really fast, from zero to 60 in eight months.

After a loose service game at the start of the decider, Ferrer's challenge began to fade. I believe it's because today I was more aggressive coming to the net. Number one for me was anyway something for later in the year. Hopefully a lot of other big matches, maybe in Grand Slams, maybe in finals of tournaments.

In Saturday's semifinal, Shapovalov will meet the victor of Friday's late match between fourth-seeded German Alexander Zverev and Kevin Anderson of South Africa. Then this kind of eats you up inside mentally.

The stirring comebacks that 18-year-old Shapovalov used to become the youngest player to reach the semifinals of a Masters 1000 Series tournament died out when 20-year-old Zverev proved a little sharper and downed the Richmond Hill, Ont., lefthander 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday night. It drains you because you know you can do better, but actually your own body is not letting you.

Trending Now

Giroud confirms Arsenal stay after opening-day victor
Arsenal travel to Stoke for their next Premier League fixture before meeting Liverpool at Anfield to end September. Wenger said he had given the former Montpellier man the chance to leave but is delighted he opted to stay put.

Bomb Kills At Least 15 In Southwestern Pakistan
The nature of the blast could not immediately be determined but an investigation was underway, Bugti said. The area was cordoned off following the blast, with a high-level search operation being initiated.

Fabregas, Cahill See Red As Burnley Shock Chelsea
"For sure they are trying to take another step and to try to fight for the title, to try to fight for the Champions League". I am the coach of this team and my aim is to improve my players and my team. "The red card was a key moment".

In phone call with Trump, China's Xi reiterates calls for calm
Damian Green, First Secretary of State, said today it is "obviously" in Britain's interests for the two nations not to go to war. Instead he promised to respond to the next provocation from North Korea with what many assumed to mean nuclear force.

Heavy rains trigger flood-like situation
The district administration has opened relief camps in many parts to provide shelter to thousands of people. Brahmaputra and its tributaries are also reported to be flowing above the danger level at several places.

Mourners set to remember woman killed by officer
A judge approved a search warrant for investigators to examine the smartphones of two Minneapolis police officers in the shooting. He and Justine Ruszczyk - who'd already begun using his last name socially and professionally - were due to get married Thursday.